Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: The vibrant spirit of the Kashmiri Pandit community came alive at the annual Kashmir Overseas Association (KOA) camp held in Colorado USA. Hosted amidst the picturesque landscapes, this four-day event served as a beacon of cultural celebration and community bonding for attendees from across the country.
The KOA Camp not only provided a platform to cherish and uphold the rich ethnic heritage of Kashmiri Pandits but also honored distinguished individuals for their invaluable contributions to the community. Among the event’s highlights were the felicitation ceremonies where esteemed Committee members were recognized for their exemplary service and dedication.
The prestigious awards presented included: Lifetime Achievement Award, Padma Shree Subhash Kak for his outstanding contribution to Science and Literature. Community Appreciation Award: Acknowledging outstanding contributions towards fostering unity and goodwill. The recipients were GKPD -for their role in making the movie ‘ The Kashmir Files’, Koshur RAAG- for their recent performance at Ayodhya, Vijay Razdan, M.K Razdan-Texas, Vijay Sazawal- Maryland, Neelam Wali-Massachusetts, Anurag Harsh -New Jersey, Vijay Dhar California.
The KOA Philanthropy Awards to top 10 donors in 2023 whose support sustains community initiatives were Usha and Naveen Dhar, Sharda and Satish Cherwoo, Drs. Rajiv and Priya Pandit, Mohan Wanchoo and Kavita Sazawal, Dr.Tej Kokroo and Archana Kokroo, Sundeep Kak, Dr. Anupama Kaul and Arthur, Surja and Chaman Vishin, Monika and Ajay Mirza, Dr. Pratibha Kaul and Rakesh Bhan.
KOA Volunteer Awards celebrating individuals who selflessly devoted their time and energy to community service included Ishet Dhar-Camp Commander 2023, Rajeev Razdan -Camp Commanders 2023, Anita Kaul- Camp Commander 2024 and Sandeep Kaul-Camp Photography.
Youth Awards to recognize the achievements and promise of young members in upholding cultural values and traditions were given to Sidhi Raina, Arushi Kotru, and Romit Ganjoo.
KOA felicitated its partners globally every year and this year Sahyog Awards were presented to them. This year the recognition was given to AIKS- Delhi, Global Solace Jagti -Jammu, KSS-Faridabad, Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch, Helpline Humanity- Jagti, Jammu, KP Volunteers, Jammu
KOA president was also honoured by her Board and the community for her selfless service to the community for the past four years especially for her outstanding job during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
“KOA Camp was not just a gathering but a reaffirmation of our identity and commitment to preserving cultural roots,” remarked Dr. Archana Kokroo, its president.
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